Wire-twisting apparatus



April 1,' 1930. R. B. BRANNAKA 1,752,726.

WIRE TWISTING' APPARATUS I l Filed Sept. 5, 1928 Patented Apr. 1, 1930 PATENT OFFICE BoBBB'r B. BBANNAKA, or Bonnin@ BRANCH, rnnnsirnvmv'rnA WIRE-TWISTING APPARATUS Application lediseptember 5, 1928. Serial No. 304,061.

This invention relates to a wire twisting apparatus and it is primarily an object of the invention toV provide a device of this'kind adapted for use in the production of tie wires for electric lines or the like and particularly that type of tie wire wherein'each or both ends thereof are provided with eye members or loops to facilitate the removal of the tiev wire. Y

Another object ofthe invention is to pro- -vide an apparatus of this kind of a portable typfe which can .be readily transported by an individual from one locality to another as the occasions of practice may necessitate.,

l Furthermore, it is an object of the invention tofprovideA a device of this kind comprising a :supporting or base `member Vrotatably carrying a shaft having an outstanding eye forming member with which the wire tobe twlsted is engaged, the rotation of the shaft Y -resulting inthe requisite'twistingof the wire hereinafter be definitely claimed.

to produce the desired eye` member. v

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrange- 25 ment of the several partsof my improved wire twistingapparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenientv and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The inovel `features of my invention will In orderthatmy invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: y v

Figure 1 is a view in topA plan of a wire twisting apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, an assocated wiref strand being diagrammatically Y indicated by broken lines; p VFigure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially onthe line 2-2 of Figure 1, the wire Y strand being also indicated by broken lines;

Figure 8 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on'the line 37-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a View in perspective illustrating the formation of the Wire with respect to the apparatus before the twisting action;

Figure (Slis a fragmentary view of an end portion of the wire after twisting action.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, B. denotes a `base orl supporting member of requisite dimensions and of any preferred material and which at approximately its central portion is provided therethrough with a slot 1 of required dimensions.v This slot 1 has in communication therewith an opening 2 disposed substantially at right angles thereto, said opening being directed through the base or supporting member B to oney side ofthe slot 1 and opening at aside of said member B".

` Insertible from without through the opening 2 is an elongated shaft 3,said shaft being cfa lengthtohaveits inner end 'portion-eX- tend within the slot 1, as particularly illustrated in Figure 1, while the outer oreopposite end of the shaft 3 is formed to provide an operating crank 4. 'It is to be understood, however, that if desired any means other than a crank 4 may be employed to effect the requisite rotation to the shaft 3.

The -inner or inserted end portion of the shaft 3, as herein disclosed,` is flattened, as at 5,`to provide aseat for the larger or base end of an elongated tapered 'pin 6. This Vlarger or base end of the pin 6 carries a threaded extension 7 for requisite engagement with the inserted end portion of the shaft 3 whereby said pin 6 is eectively held in applied or working position yet can be readily and conveniently removed when it is desired to replacethe pin 6 and particularly when it is desired to use a pin of a different size.

While in the accompanying drawing I only disclose a single pin 6 it isto be noted that in practice as many of such pins will be provided as required in the working operation, the size of each of such pins determining the Vmean or inner diameter of theeye member to be formed at the extremity of a tie wire.

The pin Gis in perpendicular relation to the shaft 3 when applied and it is to be noted that the slot 1 is of a length to permit the shaft 3 to be rotated without any hindrance or ,Y

obstruction to suoli rotation being offered by the pin 6.

The upper surface of the base or support* ing member B at the side thereof remote from the shaft 3 is provided with a groove or channel 8 the samebridging the space between the slot `1 and the side of the member B. This groove or channel 8 is of a depth to receive an end portion of a tie wire T to be worked and said portion of the wire within the groove or channel 8 is held against displacement therefrom, and more especially during a working operation, through theinstrumentality of a plate 10 slidably supported upon the upper surface of the base or supporting member B. This plate 10 when in applied position, as indicated by full lines in Figure 1, overlies the groove or channel 8 and thereby effectively holds the applied wire strand T against displacement. lVhen moved in the opposite direction, as indicated by broken lines in Figure 1, the plate 10 will be free of the groove or channel 8, thus permitting unhampered application or removal of t-he tie Wire or strand T.

`While the plate 10 may be supported upon the base or supporting member B in any desired manner, in the present embodiment of my invention said plate is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 11 through which 'is freely directed a `headed retaining member 12carried by the base member B and said plate 10 is also provided at one end p0rtion, and preferably at that end remote from the slot 11, with an upstanding operating knob or `finger piece 14.

The upper surface of the base or supporting `member B in close proximity to the junction of the groove orchannel 8 with the slot 1 is provided with an opening or recess 15.

When it is desired to form an end portion of a wire strand, such as a tie wire used by linemen, an` end portion of the wire or strand is inserted within the opening or recess 15 whereupon the workman initially bends the wire around the pin 6 and then positions the outer portion of the wire within the groove or channel 8 in a manner as is believed to be clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the` resultant initial bending of the tie wire orlstrandby the operator being also illustrated in Figure 5. By inserting an end `portion of thewire or strand within the opening or recess 15, said end porti-on of the strand is effectively heldduring the period the wire is being bent `around the pin 6 and being initially placed within the groove or channel `8. This initial anchoring of the end portion of the wire or strand also facilitates the desired twisting of the wire or strand. lith the tie wireor strandapplied as just described theoperator imparts lrequisite rotation to the shaft M3 as through the medium of the crank' 1, resulting in the portions of the strandorwire T advance ofthe pin 6 being twisted one around the other and thus upon a few rotations of the shaft 3 producing a desired eye member at an end portion of the wire strand, the size of said eye member, and more particularly its inner or mean diameter, being determined by the diameter of the pin 6 adjacent to its base.

l An apparatus of this kind is particularly advantageous for use by those persons engaged in hot line maintenance as work of this kind is of an extremely dangerous character and operations in connection therewith must be performed with great care. It is for this reason that it is now` becoming the practice to provide the tie wires for holding a conductor line to an insulator, such as of a high tension type, with eye members, said eye .members providing means whereby a hook carried by a hot sticlrmay be readily engaged Within an eye member to permit the tie wire being readily released from its applied or working position.

From the foregoing description it y is thought to be obvious that a wire twisting apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use'by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change andvmodiiication without departing Vfrom the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not zwish to be understood as limiting my self to the preciseAV arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1.` A wire twisting apparatus comprising a member, a shaft rotatably supported by the member and provided with an eye forming finger, said member being provided with a recess to receive an end portion of the wire to be twisted before said wire is initially engaged around the finger. 1

`2. A wiretwisting apparatus comprising a member, a` shaft rotatably supported by the member and provided with an eyeform'- ing `finger, said member being provided with a recess to receive an end portion of the wire to be twisted before said wire is initially engaged around the finger, and means for holdingfthe opposite end portion of the wire to the member.

3. A wire twisting apparatus comprising a member, a shaft rotatably supported bythe member and provided with an eye forming finger, saidm'ember being provided with a recessto receive an end portion of the wire to betwistedbefore said wire is initially engaged around the finger, and means for holding the opposite end portion of thewire to the member, said means including a channel to receive said `portion of the wire, and a part adapted to extendY across the groove to hold the wire against displacement therefrom.

4L. An apparatus of the class described oomprising a base member having an elongated slot disposed therethrough, a shaft rotatably supported by said member and having an end portion extending beyond a side Wall of the slot, an eye forming Enger carried by said extended portion of the shaft, said base mem'- ber adjacent to the slot and at the side thereof remote from the shaft being provided with a recess to receive. an end portion of a Wire strand before said strand is initially disposed around the eye forming linger.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature.

ROBERT B. BRANNAKA. 

